MLK birthday observed in series of events, Jan. 17-21

Jan. 7, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- Economic power and social justice are key issues
to be explored during Western Michigan University's week-long
2000 observance of the birthday of the late Martin Luther King
Jr. Jan. 17-21.

The celebration includes the annual all-University convocation
at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, in Miller Auditorium. The event, which
is open to the public, represents a celebration of the life and
work of King, who died in 1968 at the hands of an assassin. It
includes speakers, two gospel choirs, WMU's Gold Company II vocal
jazz group and dance presentations.

Speakers will include WMU President Elson S. Floyd, WMU alumna
Barbara Lett Simmons of Washington, D.C., and William Santiago-Valles,
director of WMU's Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations.

Other major events include a commemorative march, a discovery
day for area K-8 students, a student festival and a lock-in as
well as an MLK speech contest. In addition, WMU colleges, offices
and departments will present a variety of special programs throughout
the week.

This year's theme is "Looking Back, Moving Forward: Economic
Power and Social Justice from a Global Perspective." It was
selected by the Faculty Senate's MLK Committee, which is chaired
by Trudy Cobb, associate professor of dance.

"We're very excited about this year's theme and its ability
to attract a wide range of participating offices, departments
and student organizations at WMU," Cobb says. "We're
pleased that the larger community also is involved in our observance
in a variety of ways."

WMU's Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations
is coordinating the University's MLK 2000 observance. More information
is available from the institute at (616) 387-2141. Detailed information
also is available on the World Wide Web at <www.wmich.edu/mlkday>.

The site includes a link to "MLK at WMU," a comprehensive
presentation on King's visit and speech at WMU on Dec. 18, 1963,
as well as other resources. Staff members in the Archives and
Regional History Collections, a part of the WMU Libraries, and
the Office of Information Technology produced the site.

Major events this year include:

Commemorative march, sponsored by the WMU student chapter
of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,
beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at the Bernhard Center
and proceeding to MLK Park on North Rose Street in Kalamazoo.

Discovery Day, sponsored by WMU's Volunteer Student Services
for elementary and middle school students throughout Kalamazoo
County, from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, in the Student Recreation
Center.

All-University Convocation, at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, in
Miller Auditorium. Besides speakers, performers will include
the Voices of WMU Gospel Choir, the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Mass
Choir and a dance presentation, "Lynching: Then and Now,"
choreographed by Cobb.

Student Festival, featuring ethnic food for a "Taste
of Diversity," from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, in the
Bernhard Center. Dance, music and poetry readings also will be
part of the festival, which is in its second year.

Lock-in, sponsored by the Division of Minority Affairs and
the Minority Student Leadership Council, beginning at 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 21, in the Bernhard Center and continuing in the
Student Recreation Center, with workshops, seminars and lectures.
Using the theme "Darkness is Ignorance: Are You Afraid of
the Light?", the lock-in includes reflections on the 1968
Black Action Movement's sit-in at WMU and a candle-lighting ceremony.

In addition, the Residence Hall Association will sponsor its
annual MLK speech contest. Interested persons may enter the contest
or get more information from Steve Veldkamp, assistant director
of student activities and leadership programs, at (616) 387-2115.